Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2000

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claims for service connection for various conditions, including ulcers, tinea of the hands and feet, anxiety disorder, hypertension, cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and hearing loss, are well-grounded. The right ear hearing impairment was incurred in service.

The Board found no evidence to support a connection between the veteran's current back disorder and his active service, thus denying the claim.

The VA denied an increased evaluation for the service-connected low back strain, currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for a back disorder due to new and material evidence submitted since the November 1993 rating decision. The claim is well-grounded as there is competent medical evidence linking the current back disability to events in service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disorder and a back disability due to new evidence. The claim for service connection for a stomach disorder is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and a back disorder, as well as his increased evaluations for schistosomiasis and gunshot wound of the right ankle. The Board found that there was no competent evidence linking these conditions to service or secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's low back strain is currently evaluated as 20 percent disabling. The Board found that the schedular criteria for a higher rating have not been met.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee. The current ratings are at their maximum allowed under VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle, back, and hip disabilities are not well-grounded because there is no competent evidence of current disabilities or a nexus between his service-connected left knee disability and these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of service connection for a right foot disability and low back disability are not well-grounded. The evidence does not establish current diagnoses or show a nexus between any diagnosed conditions and service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection of a back condition secondary to his left knee disability. However, it was determined that the back injury is not proximately due to or aggravated by the service-connected left knee disability. The rating for residuals of arthrotomy of the left knee with traumatic arthritis remains at 20 percent. The temporary total rating based on hospitalization from June 21 to August 2, 1990, was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disorder and low back disorder, as well as his increased ratings for cervical spine arthritis and chronic sinusitis. The decision also noted that VA had satisfied its obligation to assist in developing evidence relevant to these claims.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, currently evaluated at 40 percent.

The Board denied service connection for polysubstance abuse and residuals of low back injuries, finding that the veteran's claims were not well-grounded due to his alcohol/drug abuse.

The veteran's low back disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected left knee disorder. The other claims are pending and will require further development.

The RO denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected chronic lumbo-thoracic fasciitis, currently rated at 40 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for dysmenorrhea, tension headaches, sinusitis, bursitis of the right deltoid, a stomach disorder (claimed as gastroenteritis), and low back strain are not well-grounded.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding no objective medical evidence to substantiate that he currently has residuals of an injury incurred during his period of active duty training.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence linking any of the veteran's claimed conditions to service, and thus his claims for service connection are denied.